Later Fall: The BZM Athletes of the Week
Competitive Athletics — Top local performers from the finale of fall sports
Editor’s Notes: This is the third story in our series introducing the Blast Zone Media Athletes of the Week, including the final recipients from the recently completed fall prep sports season.
To read the special foreword by Whitney Nailon and the first four weeks of award winners, click here.
And to find out who received BZM Athlete of the Week awards in the middle run of the fall sports season, click here. These awards are brought to you by Competitive Athletics.
Week 9
Sienna DiCristina, Kalama, Girls Soccer
DiCristina scored one goal and one assist for the ‘Nooks in a win over King's Way. She went on to add four goals and one assist against Castle Rock later in the week, and finished the season with 23 goals and 10 assists.
Elijah Andersen, Woodland, Football
Anderson ran for three touchdowns and passed for two more in the Beavers’ 49-21 win over Mark Morris. Andersen went on to be named 2A GSHL MVP and led Woodland to a league title and trip to the state playoffs. He recently signed on to play for Idaho State University beginning next fall.
Week 10
Natalie Baker, Clatskanie, Volleyball
Baker notched 19 kills, five stuff blocks, four aces (with 95% serving), 16 digs (with a 2.2 serve-receive rating), and five saves for the Tigers against the defending State champions from Portland Adventist. She also Clatskanie with 11 kills, four aces and two stuff blocks against Vernonia earlier in the week to clinch the league title. The Tigers went on to finish sixth in the state tournament.
Nate Stephens, Mark Morris, Football
Stephens tallied 94 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 16 touches to help Mark Morris defeat R.A. Long in the Civil War. Stephens started the season in a quarterback battle and finished the campaign as perhaps the most versatile Monarch in the bunch.
Week 11
Aliyah Yaple, Mark Morris, Volleyball
Yaple led the Mark Morris offense with 15 kills to go with four blocks in a comeback win over Aberdeen to open District play. She went on to notch 14 kills, three blocks, and a dozen digs in a win over R.A. Long to clinch a State berth.
Treyton Marty, Toledo, Cross Country
Marty capped a brilliant cross country career for the Riverhawks with another third place finish at the State meet. Expect to read more about Marty in the spring track season when he’ll be helping Toledo’s relay team compete for a medal.
Week 12
Halle Johnson, Kelso, Volleyball
Johnson led Kelso with 25 assists and nine digs against Timberline in the bi-district tournament. Johnson orchestrated the Kelso offense all day long, including 21 assists and four digs in a win over Kentlake. Johnson also notched 18 assists and seven digs in a loss to Capital in the playoff opener.
Rodrigo Rodriguez, Onalaska, Football
Rodrigo Rodriguez led the Loggers with four touchdowns that included 165 rushing yards with scoring jaunts of 24, 45 and 61 yards. He also hauled in a TD pass in a 60-8 win over Newport in the 2B State playoffs. Rodriguez was named overall MVP and co-Offensive MVP of the C2BL East.
Week 13
Jack Strange, Naselle, Football
Naselle senior Jack Strange scored six touchdowns in a 60-50 win over Pomeroy in the 1B state football quarterfinals. Strange led the way on the ground with 300 yards and four touchdowns, while catching three passes for 96 yards and two scores. The senior All-League MVP also led the Naselle defense with 14 tackles.